A Lifetime of Lessons – Calasanz Extended Biography:The Early Years – Part Three

Continued from “A Lifetime of Lessons – Calasanz Extended Biography:The Early Years – Part Two”

I was fortunate at the beginning of my martial arts training to meet and train with some exceptional teachers.  I trained with Pacheco, Rafael Martinez, Victor Loraine, Lizardo and my teacher Tamajoshi Sakamoto. I put most of my earnings into my training in hopes that my investment would pay off one day.  A lot of my training was private, but I would often join classes for the purpose of working on my sparring skills.  Sparring in a traditional martial arts school was not like it is now.  We had no protective gear, no mouthpieces, no one to stop the fight, and a room full of guys who wanted to beat the daylights out of you.  If you try to do this in this in the United States, you immediately expose yourself to lawsuits and your students will drop out in droves.  

I remember one day when I was in class and Rafael called me to spar with him.  I had not been in class for about two months.  I think he may have been under the impression that I wasn’t training and that he was going to make an example out of me.  He was shocked when we started fighting.  I held my own during that match and gained even more respect from my fellow students. Rafael was a formidable opponent.  He weighed 190lbs, held a black belt in Goju Ryu and was a professional boxer.  That night, he came to my house and found me training.  He watched me work out until 2:00AM.  He could not believe the amount of effort and dedication I had. 

Victor Liriano is another man who was one of my greatest Goju Ryu mentors.  He was one of the first teachers I had that put a lot of emphasis on developing good counterattacking skills.  I told him about the experience I had with the cow and how I reacted immediately.  We both agreed that reaction without hesitation is essential when fighting. 

Lizardo, the star of the group, decided he wanted to spar with me.  During the match, he was very careful to keep his distance.  I was so conscious about conditioning and developing power that some people were afraid of my power.  One day when Lizardo and I were sparring, he asked me if I would take it easy on him.  Lizardo became one of my teachers and also a good friend.  From that point on, I couldn’t fight with him any more.  It’s always been hard for me to spar with someone I liked and respected. 

To be continued…

Calasanz Martial Arts and Fitness

507 Westport Ave. Norwalk, CT 06851

www.calasanz.com

www.interdojo.com

www.the-perfectfit.com

Published in: on February 25, 2011 at 1:44 pm  Leave a Comment  
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A Lifetime of Lessons – Calasanz Extended Biography: The Early Years – Part Two

I recall another incident where a friend of mine was being picked on and he was too afraid to stick up for himself.  Again, here was someone larger than me, but I didn’t care.  Some of my friends wanted to help me fight him because we were so unevenly matched, but I wanted to take him on myself.  I used my legs, kicking him relentlessly.  When my father heard that I was yet again in another fight, he was angry until he heard that I won the fight!!

One of my first unofficial students was my little brother.  He was being challenged to fight by one of the local bullies.  I told him to drop back after the kid started fighting and punch him with all his might.  He did just what I told him and knocked the guy out.  All the work with the cows taught me not only the power of the legs, but also the advantages of a powerful and speedy counterattack.  I incorporated this philosophy into my system, which is largely based on effective deflecting blows and followed with counterattacking techniques.

While my father did not approve of the fights I would get into, understand that I was never the aggressor.  I didn’t start fights needlessly, nor was I a bully.  When I fought, it was to defend another or myself and in some instances, to prove a point.  Where I grew up, it was part of the male culture to be strong and not back down from a fight.  So while my father didn’t’ condone fighting, he admired my skill and courage. 

I left my family farm and went to Santiago to continue my academic studies.  It was there that I was first exposed to the martial arts after seeing a karate demonstration, lead by a man named Rafael Martinez, who would later become my good friend and teacher.  I took my first class where I was taught high, middle and low blocks, reverse punch, and a front, side and roundhouse kick.  I took these few movements and practiced them for three months straight before I went back to the school again.  It was during this time that I focused on developing my power.  Three months later, I returned.  With just the few techniques that I had mastered, I was able to successfully spar my classmates and gain their respect despite the fact that I was three times smaller than anyone else and that most of them were black belts. These were not your average karate practitioners; they were killers.  While martial arts today are more of a recreational sport, back then, you had to fight for your life.  There was no referee, no rules, and no pads. 

I also learned something about myself in the course of my three months of training.  I knew that I had a natural talent for the martial arts.  I believe that when you are given a natural talent, no matter what it is, that you should pursue it.  I was determined to take the gift that I was given and develop it to the best of my ability.  I also knew that I could not abuse my talents and that I would only put them to good use.  That is one of the reasons why I decided to make martial arts my business. 

to be continued…

Calasanz Martial Arts and Fitness

507 Westport Ave. Norwalk, CT 06851

www.calasanz.com

www.interdojo.com

www.the-perfectfit.com

Published in: on February 24, 2011 at 11:55 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Grounding: Why a Strong Stance is Important. by Calasanz

We teach a lot of students from other martial art schools.  The first thing I look for when evaluating them is a strong stance.  Some have excellent stances while others are weak and wobbly.  A good stance is your foundation.  Without a good stance, all the fancy moves in the world are useless. 

“Being grounded” means your connected to the earth. In martial arts, grounding is your ability to grip the floor or the ground beneath you in a good, solid stance.  If you are grounded, it’s harder for your opponent to throw you down or knock you off balance.

I recall an incident many years ago in my Wing Chun class in Chinatown, NY where a karate practitioner came into our school wanting to fight one of us.  Please don’t think that this only happens in the movies, as I’ve experienced a lot of this juvenile behavior over the years from lots of guys who felt they had something to prove. This guy kept trying to sweep me off my feet and he just couldn’t.  Every time he came after my leg to sweep it, I dropped into a strong, grounded horse stance, making his mission impossible.

How do you develop good grounding?  First of all, do a lot of stance work.  The biggest mistake a lot of new martial artists make is to quickly learn their basic stances and then never pay attention to them.  Practicing stances, both stationary and moving (forwards and backwards) should be done routinely.

The old-timers loved to see how long they could hold a horse stance.  Get into a horse stance and watch the clock.  See how long you can hold it until your legs literally start to shake and you feel like you just can’t take it anymore.  Log your time and work on increasing your time.  See how strong your legs get and how powerful your stance becomes.  Remember, martial artists who practice grounding exercises don’t need to do squats, leg curls or leg extensions in a gym.

Practice your stance work with a partner.  Get into a stance and have your partner try to get you off balance.  This will test the strength of your stance.  Another exercise I like to do at my school is to have one partner push their opponent, while he or she drops into a strong stance.  This gets you accustomed to grounding while in motion. You can practice this with any basic stance in your style. 

Next, pay close attention to your stances while practicing katas.  Make sure that with each transition, your stances are strong and grounded.  Putting some effort behind your stances not only improves your katas, but you’ll notice that you have more control over your legwork when fighting.  You’ll grip the ground better when necessary and your supporting leg will be rooted enough so you can deliver strong kicks with precision and balance.

Published in: on February 16, 2011 at 11:01 pm  Comments (1)  
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Soft and Hard Techniques in the Martial Arts: by Calasanz

I chose to master the style of Goju Ryu, mostly because of its’ beautiful techniques and ancient while modern at the same time application of distinguished, overlaying soft and hard techniques. For both combat and health, Goju Ryu requires the body to achieve a state of physical and mental balance based on the distinction between hard and soft, fast and slow, heavy and light, erect and angled – in short, Yin and Yang, a subtle yet strong distinction between these extremes is what creates enormous power.

The mind learns a logical use of self-consciousness and feelings for your inner self. It creates a real understanding inside and outside your own physical body with the universe.

The science behind this power is quite simply – the ability to produce flexible, fluid, constant power by way of training the body to issue a sureness of movement in a variety of cadences, angles, and speeds. And it is through practicing forms that are difficult to master, but highly practical, that eventually high skill is achieved.

Mastering forms on daily basis develops the explosive power of flexible strength. It is best revealed when the body achieves a relaxed, controlled, and natural ability to move efficiently between the forces of soft and hard – Yin and Yang.

Calasanz Martial Arts and Fitness / 800-414-9544 / 507 Westport Ave. Norwalk CT / www.calasanz.com / www.interdojo.com / www.the-perfectfit.com

Calasanz Martial Arts / wing chun demonstration

Published in: on January 27, 2011 at 12:56 am  Leave a Comment  
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The Business of Belts and Ranking Systems: by Calasanz

 

If you practice the martial arts, the color of the belt around your waist is used to signify your grade, level or “ranking” within the style.  Colored belts, however, were never part of the ancient martial arts tradition.  According to martial art folklore, a student was given a white belt to match his uniform and hold up his pants.  After many years of training, the belt became stained with dirt, blood and sweat to the point where it turned black.  See, while you were encouraged to wash your uniform, your belt was off limits. Belt washing meant that you washed away all the “qi” or energy accumulated over the years and this was strictly prohibited. 

In the 1880’s, Judo founder Jigoro Kano created the first belt ranking system.  Subsequently, other arts followed by creating a hierarchy of colors earned by students. The belt ranking system has been successful with Western cultures because of the emphasis we place on degrees, certifications, awards, licenses and other indicia of proficiency. The belt ranking system sets up goals for students to achieve along their training, with the belt as the reward.

Originally, there were only three colored belts…white, for the beginner, green for intermediate, and black for advanced.  Eventually different styles, schools and martial arts organizations adopted their own color ranking system that included numerous levels. Many styles have also added the concept of the “stripe,” which is a form of advancement between color ranks. 

It’s important to know that if you have a green belt in a Japanese style for instance, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you can go to the Tae Kwon Do school across town and be recognized as a green belt there. What the belts signify is that you have learned the basic principles and techniques for that particular rank, in that particular system.  Depending on the instructor at the new school, some will allow students transferring from another style to either wear the belt they earned or the equivalent in their system. Others may require you to start from white belt and work your way up. 

Please understand that in the modern American dojo each level of advancement, whether it’s a colored belt or stripe comes with a price tag.  To obtain the next a belt or stripe, the student will have to take a test.  The more testing a school does, the more it collects in test fees.  Some schools even have separate charges for the belt or stripe, and the test fee.

I’m not opposed to the ranking system because it gives students goals to focus on and offers a sense of achievement for hard work. I do believe that a consumer looking for a martial arts school should inquire about the amount of promotions since they are a revenue generating machine and do not necessarily guarantee proficiency in martial arts training. Buyer beware!

Calasanz Martial Arts and Fitness / 507 Westport Ave. Norwalk CT / 800-414-9544 / www.interdojo.com / www.calasanz.com / www.the-perfectfit.com

Lucas of Calasanz Martial Arts on Facebook

Published in: on January 12, 2011 at 3:47 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Choosing a Traditional or Eclectic Martial Art: by Calasanz

 

If you’re ready to study the martial arts, you have lots of choices.  There are many traditional styles out there to choose from.  If you choose a traditional martial art, you study one style where the techniques are taught in their original form.  These arts are typically rooted in ancient traditions and include styles like Tae Kwon Do, Wing Chun Kung Fu, Aikido, Judo or Shotokan Karate.

An eclectic martial art is a combination of several traditional martial arts.  Some eclectic styles include body conditioning and even some military combat techniques. The main focus is not to study an art, but rather to learn practical self-defense.

As someone who has studied both, I can offer you one piece of very valuable advice. The first factor you should consider in making your choice is to find an instructor places a big emphasis on the basics. 

Unfortunately, many consumers of martial art services are more concerned with quantity rather than quality. A common complaint is that “we haven’t learned anything new!”  At the end of the day, it is a mastery of the basics that will create a strong foundation.

Whether you decide to study a traditional or eclectic style, the first thing you’ll have to learn is how to control your body. You have to learn how to properly kick, punch, block, evade and fall so you don’t get hurt too much.  The only way to get good at the basics is to practice them over and over again. They must become automatic, so that in a self-defense situation, you don’t even have to think. 

Many critics of the traditional arts say that the eclectic styles are best if your goal is to learn self-defense.  I disagree.  Both traditional and eclectic styles teach you how to defend yourself.  If you study either one diligently, at a good and reputable school, you will learn self-defense. This is not the issue. Training for self-defense is not the same as training to get into the ring.  In a self-defense situation, you want to do the most damage in a short time and then look for a quick way out.

If fitness is your goal, either an eclectic or traditional style will provide you with plenty or opportunities to improve physically.  The secret is to attend class consistently.

Another factor to consider is whether has the personality that would enjoy studying an ancient art and all of its ethical and philosophical roots. This may include some form of meditation. Some people want to stay clear of this type of training while others embrace it.  If you wish to dispense with tradition, uniforms, foreign languages and philosophy, you’re better off with an eclectic style.  Remember, you don’t have to study the art of ballet if you just want to dance! 

Calasanz Martial Arts and Fitness / 507 Westport Ave. Norwalk, CT / 800-414-9544 / www.calasanz.com / www.interdojo.com / www.the-perfectfit.com

Calasanz on Facebook

Published in: on January 12, 2011 at 1:56 pm  Leave a Comment  
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“I’d like to offer you the chance to transform your body and your life.” Part 2: The Making of a Legend

Calasanz grew up on a farm in the Dominican Republic.  From earliest childhood, his natural athletic gifts of power, endurance and alignment, startled neighbors and family.  At age 5, he began to develop his own brand of training for his physical skills, by working in the fields… by 10, he fought a grown man, a neighborhood bully, and won.

Recognizing his son’s uniqueness, Calasanz’s father sent him to the city to study.  There, he achieved multiple diplomas, always testing his own endurance by stretching the envelope in extraordinary ways.  He began to study Goju Ryu Karate with Tomajoshi Sakamoto, one of the most renowned Martial Artists in the world.  His grueling regimen of training, and his own natural gifts soon brought his skills to the attention of other Martial Arts Masters.  Calasanz studied Wing Chun Kung Fu under Moyat, another near- legendary master.  It became apparent that while he was still on the career fast-track at one of the largest banks in the Dominican Republic, his true path lay with Martial Arts.

Nana at Calasanz Pau Fa Yoga on Facebook.

Published in: on November 9, 2010 at 11:34 pm  Leave a Comment  
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“I’d like to offer you the chance to transform your body and your life.” Part 1: Martial Arts…Physical Arts

There’s a magic to the study of Martial Arts. Legendary images emerge… stories of tapping into ancient secrets… of making seemingly superhuman feats possible… of harnessing chi, the lifeforce of the Universe. The good news is that the stories are true, and that Calasanz has created a way to use them to empower your life. He invites you to come with him on a grand journey of self discovery, a journey of perfecting the body in ways you never dreamed possible.

“The best bodies do not come from throwing yourself into grueling training sessions that cause burnout,” Calasanz will tell you. “The process must be exciting and enjoyable for you, if you want to reap the greatest rewards. The best bodies are developed as you learn discipline, focus, strength and flexibility… reaching deep inside yourself to reach your goals. In a surprisingly short time, instead of seeing a kick or a punch, you’ll see a way of life. You’ll become more effective in your work and your relationships… more self-confident… you’ll learn how to achieve your highest goals in life. This is true transformation.”

Calasanz’s philosophy is a simple one: “Karate and Kung Fu have as much to do with strength of heart and mind, as they do with strength of body,” he says, when he teaches. “My students quickly learn both kinds of strength. My system is great for the young hot-shots who come here wanting to learn combat, but it’s equally great for women who want to know self-defense… or for children, who need to develop focus and discipline… or for men and women of any age who are seeking an intelligent, practical, enjoyable way to stay young and fit for a lifetime.

“The key is an understanding that each body is different and each student, young or old, must learn at his or her own special pace. It is very important to avoid injury and to strengthen the muscles, week by week, until you achieve your goals.”

Shannon at Calasanz Martial Arts and Fitness on Facebook.

“Come and train with us because you want to take something home for life”

Calasanz Martial arts and Fitness: 507 Westport Ave. Norwalk CT – www.calasanz.com – 1-800-414-9544

Published in: on November 8, 2010 at 4:05 pm  Leave a Comment  
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CALASANZ: THE POWER OF CHI PART 2

Chi is an inner gift that we all possess, that we must cultivate in order to reap its many rewards. The development of one’s chi takes patience, persistence, discipline and the repetition of techniques designed to stimulate this power. To develop his chi, a martial arts student must first understand the concept of “go” (meaning hard ), and “Ju” (meaning soft ), and its application in the execution of martial art techniques. Bruce Lee was a master of chi and because of this, he was able to deliver powerful blows with his hands, his feet and his entire energy system.

A student who is too hard or too soft in his practice is out of balance. The right combination of go and ju is necessary to help facilitate the chi and deliver its power. This is why Calasanz emphasizes proper technique, when training students. If a technique is sloppy, the chi can not be effectively directed toward its target. If the technique exerts too much energy, the chi is wasted, and the student will lack endurance. Styles such as Kyoku Shinkai Karate, for example, are very “hard” or “Go” in their execution of techniques. While this style is a brutal system of Karate, It lacks balance. Too much Go, not enough Ju. Proper balance of Go and Ju is what makes the Calasanz system of Karate & Kung-Fu effective and popular among its students.

Calasanz Martial Arts and Fitness

507 Westport Ave, Norwalk CT

1800-414-9544 / 1-203-847-6528 / www.calasanz.com

Published in: on October 15, 2010 at 8:41 pm  Leave a Comment  
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CALASANZ: THE POWER OF CHI PART 1

True Martial Arts mastery is in the spirit… in the mind… in the heart. The true Master teacher- the sensei, the sifu – analyzes each individual’s potential and brings out the best he or she can be.

Simply stated, Chi is the energy that powers life –all life, human, plant, animal, everything in our universe that lives. In Asia, Chi has been recognized and understood for millennia. It’s the basis for both Martial Arts and traditional Chinese medicine. It’s the force that Luke Skywalker accessed in Star Wars, the universal energy field that taps the electromagnetic fields of our earth and our universe. Like radio waves or microwaves, it can’t be seen, but must be judged by the results it produces.

In this segment of the program, Calasanz will demonstrate the Explosive power of chi and how this power can be utilized in breaking, kata, and fighting. For many years, Calasanz has trained like a modern day shaolin monk, developing his chi and his martial arts skill through daily eighteen hour workouts in his dojo. It is Calasanz’s goal to help his students develop this awesome power, without having to engage in the grueling workouts he himself has endured throughout his years of training. To achieve this goal, he has refered his training system to help students access their Chi as quickly and as powerful as possible.

Calasanz – Karate, Kung-Fu, Kickboxing and Physical Arts

507 Westport Ave, Norwalk, CT

1-800-414-9544 / 203-847-6528 / www.calasanz.com

Published in: on October 14, 2010 at 2:53 pm  Leave a Comment  
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